Cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining International Peace

COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND REGIONAL AND SUBREGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY (EUROPEAN UNION)

Mr. President,
At the outset, I would like to thank the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for his comprehensive briefing to the Council. We note with appreciation the deepening cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations, in support of multilateralism and the rules-based order; rooted in the recognition that it takes more than an individual country to resolve the challenges of the present era. We equally commend the efforts being made to implement our common desire for an enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements as elaborated in Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations.  As Ghana has consistently reiterated, regional organisations have a critical role to play in supporting the primary responsibility of this Council in maintaining international peace and security. We therefore welcome today’s dialogue between the United Nations and the European Union and support all measures that can strengthen the relationship and enhance coordination between our two bodies in furtherance of the common aspiration for peace and security.
 
Mr. President,
As a Member State of the African Union and ECOWAS, we are uniquely aware of the necessity for the complementarity of regional and sub-regional arrangements in addressing conflict situations, but also in responding to emerging transnational threats such as terrorism and violent extremism, maritime piracy, and organised crimes like drug trafficking, illicit flows of
small arms and light weapons, and money laundering. The roles that regional organisations play in managing the multiplicity of crises in different parts of the world can no longer therefore be marginalised and must be deeply anchored in the work of the Council and centred in the United Nations’ strategy and approach in how we stabilise our world. It is in this context, that we welcome the European Union’s contribution towards this Council’s work in promoting international peace and security.
 
We note, especially, the supportive role that the EU continues to play in the prevention of conflicts, their resolution and the recovery of societies after conflict has occurred, and welcome, in this regard, the EU’s new consensus on the role of development cooperation which has strengthened the nexus between security, development and humanitarian aid in a way that we hope would have a transformative impact on fragile situations such as those of the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. In proactively responding to conflicts, it is necessary that we address its root causes and the underlying drivers. In the area of peacekeeping, we are encouraged by the strengthening of the partnership between the EU and the UN and note that besides the 17 missions and operations run by the EU globally, its Member States continue to be, collectively, one of the major contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping budget and a significant contributor of uniformed personnel.
 
As the African Union focuses policy interest on activating its Peace and Security Architecture towards a robust and offensive response against the asymmetrical threats that the continent is presently confronted with, it is my delegation’s hope that we would find in the European Union a partner not only for the establishment of mandates by the Council, but also, beyond the
bilateral financing assistance under the European Peace Facility, support for the sustainable and predictable funding of such operations from the assessed contributions of the United Nations.
 
The Sahel region regrettably has become a breeding ground for terrorists and violent extremists who are making in-roads into other parts of Africa. We therefore welcome renewed commitment in support of the counter-terrorism efforts in the region and look forward to the EU’s active engagement in the outcomes of the Joint Strategic Assessment of Security and Governance in the Sahel. We also commend the EU funding support provided to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and look forward to the continued support required for ATMIS during the period of the Somalia Transition Plan.
 
Indeed, in Africa, the presence of the EU has been marked by its multisectoral cooperation with governments and non-government agencies in support of development and security objectives and we appreciate the alignment of such actions with the values and objectives of the United Nations. We also acknowledge the many arrangements of peace and security cooperation between the EU and the United Nations, including in places such as Syria, Yemen and Myanmar, where EU-supported humanitarian operations and funding continue to be critical in saving the lives and livelihoods of many. We also note that the relative stability in the Balkan region of Europe is owed in part to the active engagement of the EU. We further encourage an enhancement of the partnership of the European Union in the Middle East Quartet in pursuit of a negotiated solution to the nowburning Question of Palestine, on the basis of the Two-State Solution and in
line with the decisions of this Council.
 
Europe itself is in a delicate and unprecedented state of instability following the Russian Federations’ invasion of Ukraine. As has been said by many, the war has created Europe’s worst security and humanitarian crisis since the end of the Second World War. We solidarise with the efforts to contain the security breach against the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine and encourage the EU to consider all possible means to help end the war in Ukraine through a negotiation outcome of the key interests of the parties on the basis of established and clear principles of international law, including the Charter of this Organisation. The consequences of the war on the people of Ukraine have been immense, and needlessly painful. But also, the ramifications of the war on the rest of the world have been severe as is being seen in new levels of food insecurity for millions, rising cost of living across the world, and widespread sociopolitical instability in several countries. The war in Ukraine must stop! We urge the further support of the EU in exploring solutions to the supply-chain disruptions for food, energy and global financing as a result of the war.
 
Mr. President,
In furtherance of multilateralism and international cooperation, we recognise the EU’s contributions to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility and encourage further efforts to reduce the developing world’s reliance on vaccine imports and donations through support for deconcentrated manufacturing and storage capacities across different parts of the world. The world’s resilience against future pandemics is necessary to avoid instability to the global order and we count on the full participation of all Member States in the ongoing consultations to adopt a resolution that request the convening of a one-day high-level meeting of the General Assembly to adopt a political declaration that would help to mobilise political will for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
 
In closing, I wish to re-iterate the crucial importance of regional and subregional bodies to realizing the objectives of the United Nations and the sustenance of our multilateral order. We therefore encourage the United Nations further engagement with the EU in addressing present and future peace and security challenges across our world, including in Europe.
 
I thank you for your kind attention.